Hastings Cancer Trust

"Community is a pillar of identity for all of us. We all need to be supported, loved and valued in a community.

In cancer care, your community becomes critical to help support your spirit, your physical health and your mental health. Multiple communities need to interact silently and effortlessly. Connections must be made to help people. Family, friends, the healthcare system, the community all must sit and work together peacefully and with purpose.

Our First Nations people were the first to celebrate community on this beautiful land we now live and we want to acknowledge this in our Heart of Courage project. The indigenous art symbolizes a meeting place, where we can sit together, collaboratively and with love and support and care at its centre.

The heart of courage project wants to celebrate and strengthen community around cancer care for regional Australia.

We want researchers to continue to work together to find solutions that cure cancers or decrease the devastating impact cancer can have and we want regional Australia to be part of the research effort. We want to see programs in regional communities so cancer patients can stay in their home and in their community to be loved and cared for. Breaking connections to a persons community and to their local health team can be isolating, lonely and stressful.

The Heart Of Courage project is all about strengthening communities in regional Australia. Port Macquarie is our first destination."

Beautiful words by Melinda Cockshutt which shine the heart and soul of our project.

Our artwork is inspired by Mel's Daughter, Alani Cockshutt, and her Year 10 & Year 12 Major Textiles Quilts which theme her Indigenous heritage and personal cancer story.

We are honored to receive Alani's blessing to shine elements of her Major Textiles with Heart of Courage.

We would also like to extend our huge thanks to Susie Heath for her graphic design talents and contribution with interpolating the meaning and detailed patterns of Alani's quilts.

What an incredible team we have working together which make this project so special and meaningful to all of us.

Melinda Cockshutt Alani Cockshutt Susie Heath
Tour de Cure Australia
Heart of Courage
Hastings Cancer Trust

The Trustees and Friends of the Hastings Cancer Trust would like to thank all of the local businesses and locals in general who have supported the fundraising efforts in 2023. It has been a wonderful year with Barefoot Bowls hosted by Port City Bowling Club, several Making a Meal of Cancer events, HEM Property/Emerald Downs Golf Course & Estate golf day, bowls days hosted by the West Port & Lake Cathie Lady Bowlers and Calories for Cancer hosted by CrossFit 2444 and HEM. The money raised from these events went a long way to help the HCT award $173,700 in grants to health care professionals treating cancer patients in the Camden Haven, Wauchope, Port Macquarie and Macleay districts and bring some important diagnostic equipment to the Port Macquarie and Wauchope hospitals. Thanks again and we wish you all a happy and safe Christmas and we look forward to a wonderful 2024

Don't miss out on grabbing yourself a pair of our AMAZING Heart of Courage custom swimmers in partnership with Budgy Smuggler!

http://www.heartofcourage.com.au/apparelgear.html #/

Heart of Courage Adventure Heart
Tour de Cure Australia Hastings Cancer Trust
Bec Hoschke Melinda Cockshutt
Budgy Smuggler Smugglettes by Budgy Smuggler

Thank you to Caron and Donna and the team at Snap Print Solutions Port Macquarie. Caron has donated all of the printing of the HCT raffle books and grant certificates for several years and discounted the production of our new banner which was designed by Jayden Monkley free of charge . Support for the HCT comes in many forms . Thank you.
LOCALS SUPPORTING LOCALS

There were 11 x 2023 HCT grant certificates given out on the grant presentation evening last week valuing almost $174,000. The Wauchope District Memorial Hospital operating theatre applied for $9,000 for the purchase of a Colposcope to perform LLETZ procedures. The NUM of the unit, Melissa Court, explained the many benefits to their female patients of having the Colposcope at the Wauchope Hospital. Currently patients have to be referred to the Port Macquarie Base Hospital who have access to the scope.
Another very important grant was awarded to Dr Baerin Houghton for the upgrade of the chest drain used at the Port Base Hospital to a Thopaz Digital Chest Drain. The grant was for $10,527 and the upgrade will go a long way to improving the diagnosis' and treatment of LOCAL cancer patients.

Working up a sweat to beat cancer
EXERCISE is being prescribed to beat cancer with new research showing patients who work up a sweat are able to ­endure more treatments and boost their chances of survival against the killer illness.
Thank you to CrossFit 2444 for hosting the Calories for Cancer fundraiser and to F45 Port Macquarie & World Gym Port Macquarie for participating. Also to Miss Motivator Women's Workouts for your support in 2023.

Thank you to the Solahart Port Macquarieand Bookface Cafe teams for being part of the CrossFit 2444 and HEM Property Calories for cancer fundraiser.

2057Cal in 90 minutes. Micheal said the last 10 minutes were killer.

A great cause to be involved with and a massive thank you and congratulations to HEM Property and CrossFit 2444 for organising this with the Cancer Trust

JOIN our epic challenge and swim 100 x 100s with us!
Solo or Teams of 2 or 4+

We love everything about our community challenge and its enormous benefits in teamwork & comradery, mental, physical & emotional health; being part of this character building endurance event welcome to all, Australia wide! Its timing over the Christmas-New Year gives us an opportunity to connect and check in with one another, and share this fun adventure with hope, healing & heart.

Its participation is inclusive, flexible and achievable. You can swim or simply volunteer and help out your peers on the day.

We have Heart of Courage swim caps available, $20 each
You have the option to fundraise or make a donation to HOC.
You can buy a ticket $50 solo | $80 for team of 2 | $120 for a team of 4+, with all proceeds directly to the project

We have set up a page on the website for more information:
http://www.heartofcourage.com.au/swim-100-x-100s.html #/

Please feel welcome to share this link or tile created.

Any questions guys, get in touch
Heart of Courage Co-Founders,
Bec & Mel xx

Bec Hoschke Bec Hoschke Tour de Cure Melinda Cockshutt
Heart of Courage Tour de Cure Australia Hastings Cancer Trust

The Friends of the Hastings Cancer Trust are getting ready to feed the hungry participants in the Calories for Cancer event. They are enjoying the fun, the sunshine and doing their bit to assist the fundraising. If this kind of community volunteering appeals to you we would love to hear from you. Come and become a Friend. DM if you would like more information

It’s all happening at CrossFit 2444. Calories are being burnt for Cancer raising money for the Hastings Cancer Trust.

The Hastings Cancer Trust held its annual grants presentation evening on Thursday. Many supporters of the HCT were present to see the 11 grant certificates presented to the successful applicants and to hear each of them give a brief talk on the project the grant is funding and the benefits to their patients. At the end of each presentation the recipient thanked the trustees and friends of the HCT and the generous supporters who raised the funds to make the grants possible BUT I think that we should be the ones thanking them for the care and dedication they provide to their cancer patients. Dr Stephen Begbie, Dr Baerin Houghton and the many amazing, kind and caring nurses who were there representing their colleagues, units, wards and Home Hospice staff, WE THANK YOU.

A reminder of our earlier post and now a huge thank you to HEM Property and CrossFit 2444. They have also joined forces to host the "Calories 4 Cancer" fundraising event at Crossfit2444 on Saturday morning. To date they have raised an amazing $23,000 which will be allocated to the purchase of the EBUS TBNA processor.

The Hastings Cancer Trust has joined forces with Dr Baerin Houghton, Thoracic Oncologist, to bring the latest in diagnostic equipment to our region. The Endobronchial Ultrasound guided Transbroncial needle Aspirate (EBUS TBNA) is a bronchoscopic technique that uses ultrasound to visualise structures within the airway wall, lung and mediastinum and perform diagnostic sampling of these structures. This service is currently unavailable on the Mid North Coast and local cancer patients must travel to Newcastle or Sydney to receive this essential diagnostic and staging procedure. Dr Houghton has been working with the Radiation Oncology Department at the Port Macquarie Mid North Coast Cancer Institute to bring the EBUS equipment to the area. He applied for, and has been awarded a 2023 Hastings Cancer Trust grant of $120,000 for the purchase of the processor to support the equipment and get it up and running as soon as possible to allow local cancer patients to be able to have their diagnosis locally, which will speed up access to therapies.

The Hastings Cancer Trust Mission Statement is:
" We believe providing a full spectrum of cancer services to the Hastings, Camden Haven and Macleay regions makes an incredible difference to local patients and their families coping with cancer".
Having local community groups such as the Wauchope Patchwork Quilters support us on this mission is vital. Since 2008 the group has raised funds every October to support a cancer charity and we are grateful this year that they have selected the Hastings Cancer Trust to be the recipient of their generosity.
The Quilters donation has been allocated to the HCT grant awarded to the Wauchope District Hospital operating theatre to purchase a Colposcope to perform LLETZ procedures. The LLETZ procedure is a minimally invasive procedure highly effective in preventing the development of cervical cancer. Nursing Unit Manager of surgical services at the Wauchope Hospital, Melissa Court, explained that they do not have a colposcope at the hospital which means that doctors are referring patients to Port Macquarie Base Hospital. Having it at Wauchope will reduce the waiting time for women needing the procedure and other patients already on the wait list.

The Hastings Cancer Trust has joined forces with Dr Baerin Houghton, Thoracic Oncologist, to bring the latest in diagnostic equipment to our region. The Endobronchial Ultrasound guided Transbroncial needle Aspirate (EBUS TBNA) is a bronchoscopic technique that uses ultrasound to visualise structures within the airway wall, lung and mediastinum and perform diagnostic sampling of these structures. This service is currently unavailable on the Mid North Coast and local cancer patients must travel to Newcastle or Sydney to receive this essential diagnostic and staging procedure. Dr Houghton has been working with the Radiation Oncology Department at the Port Macquarie Mid North Coast Cancer Institute to bring the EBUS equipment to the area. He applied for, and has been awarded a 2023 Hastings Cancer Trust grant of $120,000 for the purchase of the processor to support the equipment and get it up and running as soon as possible to allow local cancer patients to be able to have their diagnosis locally, which will speed up access to therapies.
This is only one of the 11 grants awarded by the Hastings Cancer Trust in the 2023 round.
For more information about the grants and how you can assist the Hastings Cancer Trust look us up at hastingscancertrust.org.au

If you are one of our Corporate Sponsors, have sponsored one of our events, have played bowls or golf, have made a cash donation or a donation of goods and services or bought a raffle ticket or 100 club ticket this year, CONGRATULATIONS . You have assisted the Hastings Cancer Trust in improving the quality of care for the cancer patients within the Hastings, Camden Haven and Macleay districts.
Thank you for your support.

Gratitude post.
The West Port Ladies Bowlers have done it again! The president of the club, Marlene van den Bosch handed a cheque for $4,000 to Lynne Frances of the Friends of the Hastings Cancer Trust.
The $4,000 is the proceeds from the group's annual fundraiser for the HCT. The trustees are grateful to the West Port Ladies Bowlers for once again making the trust the recipient of their generosity. Thank you ladies.

🧡🏊We are getting SUPER EXCITED for the Summer Season and our festive EPIC adventures! 🌅😀

Plan your swim challenge & let the training process work its magic!

To register your ticket - Click on the link below:
https://tourdecure.grassrootz.com/heart-of-courage/tickets

Heart of Courage
Melinda Cockshutt
Tour de Cure Australia Hastings Cancer Trust
Port Macquarie Hastings Council
YMCA NSW
Port Macquarie-Hastings Pools
Port Macquarie-Hastings Pools
Vladswim

We are so excited by this weekend and what we are aiming to do. 1,000 trees to be planted by Landcare rejuvating our landscape for years and years and regional cancer outcomes improved. Just $20. It’s a tiny amount for an epic lasting result, if you can afford to do this, please consider. Will continue to update you on progress.

The picture is of the beautiful natives from the Landcare nursery we will be planting. With the gorgeous paper crane in honour of Sadako. The beautiful child that was full of hope and love for life as she battled her cancer.

We started the count of 1,000 trees of hope and healing at registration of Beach to Brother Trail Festival 2023

Donate $20 here:

https://tourdecure.grassrootz.com/heart-of-courage/1000-trees-inspired-by-sadako-and-the-1000-paper-cranes

Lynne, Friend of the Hastings Cancer Trust, is at Bunnings this morning spreading the word about the work the trust does for local cancer patients . Ronda will be there this afternoon . Pop in and say hi

The Hastings Cancer Trust has been invited to have a table at Bunnings Port Macquarie on Tuesday. If you are at Bunnings and would like to know more about the work done by the HCT to support local cancer patients call in and have a chat to Lynne, Ronda or Robyn they will be there from about 9.30 am to 3.00 pm. If volunteering interests you the ladies will be happy to talk to you about what is involved .

http://www.heartofcourage.com.au/1000-native-trees.html

Heart of Courage Adventure Heart
Hastings Cancer Trust Tour de Cure Australia
Beach to Brother
Landcare Australia
Melinda Cockshutt Bec Hoschke